Drapery and curtain support apparatus



T. BEDNAR DPAPEPY ANU CURTAIN SUPPORT APPARATUS Feb. 26, 1963 Filed Aug. 18, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

53,7% 'TP/Vfy ilit 3,079,005 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,079,065 DRAPERY AND CURTAN SUPADRT APPARATUS Thelma Bednar, 119i? Esperson Eidg., Houston 2, Tex.; by Court Order of Sian. 16, 1961, Thelma Cone Filed Aug. 18, 1969, Ser. No. 50,392 3 tliaims. (El. 2li-96) This invention pertains to apparatus for supporting draperies and curtains at windows to which open access is required or desirable at times for the purpose of air conditioning or other equipment customarily mounted in windows.

A principal object of the invention is to provide drapery and curtain supporting apparatus which may be moved or retracted from the window in order to provide access to the window.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which is simple in form and is entirely dependable and easy to operate.

In the case of equipment such as air conditioning units mounted in windows, and other window mounted equip. ment, it is desirable to provide a way for covering the window with curtains or draperies at certain times and, on the other hand, to move such curtains and draperies out of the way in order that air conditioner, or like equipment, operation may be utilized efficiently and without hindrance by the curtains or draperies.

Accordingly, this invention provides support means for curtains and draperies which may be retracted or pivotally moved away form the window opening and may also be moved so that the curtains or draperies will completely cover the window and be locked in place so as to be attractive and secure. Briefly, the invention provides curtain rod equipment having two cooperative halves or parts, each of which supports curtains or draperies over half of the window area, the rod parts each including means for coaxially aligned center locking of the rod part ends at -the center of the window and hinge means at the rod outer ends for pivotal movement of each of the rods. The center lock device is automatic in operation when the rod parts are moved to closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View showing the preferred embodiment of `the invention installed at a window, the rods being in open position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial elevation, partly in axial vertical cross section showing the rods in closed position; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical axial cross section showing the center portion of the apparatus, the rods being shown in opened position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a window having side jamb portions 11 and 12 and sill 13. Window 10 is mounted in a wal-l 14. At the interior side of the window, the window is provided at each side with a side facing 16 and at its upper side with a header 18. At each upper corner of the window, in the conventional positions at which curtain rods and the like are mounted there are provided brackets 21, each secured by a plurality of screws 22. Each bracket 21 has a vertical aperture 23 adapted to receive the downwardly turned end 24 of a horizontal rod part 25 or 26. Each of the rod parts 25, 26 is so downwardly turned at its outer end to be received through a bracket 21, thus providing pivotal rod part mountings at the outer ends of the rods. Collars 24a on the rod ends bear against Ithe upper bracket sides 21a.

The rod parts 25, 26 thus may each be moved to a position parallel with header 1S of window 10 or to a position at any angle away therefrom such a perpendicular to or 186 away from, and in line with, the header,

Rod parts 2S, 26 are each composed of multiple tubular rods. Rod part 25 has smaller diameter outer rod 3i) which may be solid or tubular having the downwardly turned end 24 and has inner tubular rod 31 telescoped thereover. Rod part 26 has similar parts 32, 33. inner rods 31 and 33 each has at its outer end a spring or clip 35 at its underside. Outer rods 3l) and 32 each has parallel to the axis thereof a series of indentations 37 between each adjacent pair of which there is an elevation 33. As will be apparent, the inner rod parts 31 and 33 may each be telescopically moved longitudinally on its respective outer rod 3@ or 32 to position clip 35 in any of the indcntations 37. Thus the lengths of rod parts 25 and 26 may each be changed or adjusted to bring the rod ends together properly at the center of the Window. Clips 3S have sharp corners 35a their upper ends and indentations 37 have cooperating for-ms at their outer sides to prevent outward slippage of the clip from the indentation in which the clip is placed. The clips may be manually moved downwardly for movement to different indentations. The clips and indentations, being on the undersides of the rods, do not affect curtain movements along the upper rod sides, and maintain the inner rods 31, 33 against rotation relative to the respective outer rod 3d, 32 and against outward rod-shortening telescopic movements.

Upon the sill 1.3 of window 1d there is mounted an air conditioner 4t), or other type of window-mounted equipment, for example, a fan, a light deliector or screen, or any other type of such equipment.

Inner rod 31 being as described a tubular rod has disposed within its inner end an axially slidable plug 42. which has at its exposed end a conical formation 43, or some other formation suitable according to the principles to be described. A-t its upper side near 4its inner end rod 31 has a slot 44 therethrough parallel with the rod axis. The upper side of plug 42 is attened at 42a, and the upper side of plug 52 is iiattened at 52a. Spaced from the end of slot 44 the rod 31 has a flared recess 45. A spring 46 is disposed against the ilat upper side of plug 42 beneath slot 44, spring `46 having an enlarged end 47. A screw 48 received through the end of spring 46 is screwed into a tapped opening 49 at the flat upper `surface of plug 42. Screw 48 serves as means for xing the non-moving end of spring 46 to plug 42 and its head, being longitudinally moveable in slot 44, guides and limits movements of plug 42 axially in the tubular opening of rod 31.

Helical compression spring 5t) bears against end 51 of plug 42 and a pin 53 xed through openings at opposite sides of rod 31. Spring 50 biases plug 42 toward a position where screw 4S is in the end of slot 44 adjacent recess 45, with the plug and extended from the end of rod .31.

Rod 32 has elements 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 52 identical with the same elements of rod 31. Plug 52, corresponding to plug 42, has, however, instead of protruding conical end 43, recessed conical end S3 of the same shape as end 43 to receive plug end `43 when the plugs are brought together end to end.

When rod parts 25 and 26 are pivotally moved together at their inner ends so that the plugs are engaged and so that cone 43 will enter conical recess S3, the plugs 42, 52 bear coaxially one against the other to compress the plug springs 5d. The spring pressure causes and maintains axial alignment of the cone and conical recess, of the plugs 42. and 52, and of the rods 31 and 32 because of the plug end forms.

The brackets 21 may be of any suitable form to provide pivotal support of the rods. The clip and indentation device for maintaining the lengths of the rod parts may l@fariseos Y bereplaced by any suitable means providing that function,

Instead of cone 43 and conical recess 53 other plug end forms may be utilized. For example, the ends of the respective plugs may be datand provided one with radial ridges and the other with corresponding slots which would provide the same function and the form may be otherwise as will he apparent. It is desirable that the conformations of the plug'ends which seat under compression one against the other when the rods are in closedV position be such as to prevent sliding movements between the plug ends and to provide for alignment of the connected rods.

Referring to FIGURE 3, showing the rods in open position with the plugs 42, 52 each biased to end exposed position by the springs 50, it will be noted that the enlarged spring ends 47, each moved with a plug from the corresponding rod end, have moved upwardly due to the spring bias from the recess 4S to a position extending above the rod 31 or 32. In these extended positions, the springs serve as a means for preventing movement of the curtain or drapery or of a drapery supporting ring S5 off the end of the open rod. Upon closing of the rod, the springs 46 are retracted to the positions shown in FGURE 2 by outward plug movements into the rod ends by bearing of the plugs one against the other.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, many modifications thereof may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms'of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting curtains and draperies and the like, comprising a pair of half rod means each including at the outer end thereof a pivotal mounting means for mounting at a side of a space across which curtains or draperies or the like are to be supported, each said half rod means extending horizontally from its said mounting means halfway across said space and each said half rod means being pivotally moveable horizontally between said position halfway across said space, wherein said half rod means are aligned, and a position 180 therefrom, the inner ends of said half rod means each including means for engaging with the inner end of the other half rod when said half rods are positioned each halfway across said space, each said half rod means comprising an outer rod portion having said mounting means and a tubular xinner rod portion telescopingly and coaxially movably received thereover, said engaging means each including plug means axially received into the inner end of said tubular portion of a said half rod means and spring biased to extend therefrom and retractable thereinto by pressure against its exposed end, said plug means being engaged end-to-end when said half rod means are in said aligned position each half way across said space and retracted each by pressure of the other, the engaged end surfaces of said plugs being configured to cooperatingly engage to align said half rods and prevent lateral movements therebetween, said apparatus including lock means for fixing the relative axial positions of the outer and inner rod portions of each half rod means whereby the length of each said half rod means will be fixed against pressures between said plug means.

2. Combination of claim 1, each said lock means comprising a plural series of recesses along a said outer rod portion and spring means carried by the associated inner rod portion selectively engageable in each of said recesses to adjust the length of a said half rod, said spring means engaged in a recess also preventing relative rotations between each said inner and outer rod portions forming a said half rod.

3. Apparatus for supporting curtains and draperies and the like, comprising a pair of half rod means each including at the outer end thereof a pivotal mounting means for mounting at a side of a space across which curtains or draperies or the like are to be supported, each said half rod means extending horizontally from its said mounting means halfway across said space and each said half rod means being pivotally moveable horizontally between said position halfway across said space, wherein said half rod means are aligned, and a position therefrom, the inner ends of said half rod means each including means for engaging with the inner end of the other half rod means when said half rod means are positioned each halfway across said space, at least the inner end portion of each said half rod means being tubular, said engaging means each including plug means axially received into the tubular inner end of a said half rod means and spring biased to extend therefrom and retractable thereinto by pressure against its exposed end, said plug means being engaged end-to-end when said half rod means are in said aligned position each half way across said space and retracted each by pressure of the other, the engaged end surfaces of said plugs being coniigured to cooperatingly engage to align said half rod means and prevent lateral movements therebetween, means for limiting axial movements of extension and retraction of each said plug means and for preventing rotation of each said plug means relative the inner rod end in which it is received, and including spring retention means carried by each said plug means which is depressed by the inner rod end when the plug means is retracted and which extends laterally of the inner rod end to prevent slippage of supported curtains or draperies or the like from the half rod end when the plug means is extended upon movement of at least one of said half rods away from said aligned position halfway across said space.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF HALF ROD MEANS EACH INCLUDING AT THE OUTER END THEREOF A PIVOTAL MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOUNTING AT A SIDE OF A SPACE ACROSS WHICH CURTAINS OR DRAPERIES OR THE LIKE ARE TO BE SUPPORTED, EACH SAID HALF ROD MEANS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY FROM ITS SAID MOUNTING MEANS HALFWAY ACROSS SAID SPACE AND EACH SAID HALF ROD MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY MOVEABLE HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN SAID POSITION HALFWAY ACROSS SAID SPACE, WHEREIN SAID HALF ROD MEANS ARE ALIGNED, AND A POSITION 180* THEREFROM, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID HALF ROD MEANS EACH INCLUDING MEANS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE INNER END OF THE OTHER HALF ROD WHEN SAID HALF RODS ARE POSITIONED EACH HALFWAY ACROSS SAID SPACE, EACH SAID HALF ROD MEANS COMPRISING AN OUTER ROD PORTION HAVING SAID MOUNTING MEANS AND A TUBULAR INNER ROD PORTION TELESCOPINGLY AND COAXIALLY MOVABLY RECEIVED THEREOVER, SAID ENGAGING MEANS EACH INCLUDING PLUG MEANS AXIALLY RECEIVED INTO THE INNER END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION OF A SAID HALF ROD MEANS AND SPRING BIASED TO EXTEND THEREFROM AND RETRACTABLE THEREINTO BY PRESSURE AGAINST ITS EXPOSED END, SAID PLUG MEANS BEING ENGAGED END-TO-END WHEN SAID HALF ROD MEANS ARE IN SAID ALIGNED POSITION EACH HALF WAY ACROSS SAID SPACE AND RETRACTED EACH BY PRESSURE OF THE OTHER, THE ENGAGED END SURFACES OF SAID PLUGS BEING CONFIGURED TO COOPERATINGLY ENGAGE TO ALIGN SAID HALF RODS AND PREVENT LATERAL MOVEMENTS THEREBETWEEN, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING LOCK MEANS FOR FIXING THE RELATIVE AXIAL POSITIONS OF THE OUTER AND INNER ROD PORTIONS OF EACH HALF ROD MEANS WHEREBY THE LENGTH OF EACH SAID HALF ROD MEANS WILL BE FIXED AGAINST PRESSURES BETWEEN SAID PLUG MEANS. 